Chapter 73
“How is it that every time I miss a weekend brunch with you, there are a lot of things happening with your Your life just never gets boring” Reyna remarks dryly, with humor coating her words.
This week, our weekly meetup was at the penthouse. She looked immaculate as always, lounging in my oversized armchair with the ease of someone who owned it. The sunlight streaming through the massive floor–to–ceiling windows glinted off her silver jewelry, and her perfectly manicured nails clinked softly against her hot chocolate mug.
I let out a sigh and leaned back against the cushions of the couch. “Tell me about it.” I shook my head, running a hand through my hair “Seriously. I just want things to stay how they are right now. Is that too much to ask?
The words sounded more like an appeal to the universe than a loose complaint. Since Aiden and I got back together, our affair had settled into the loose rhythm that I loved it for
Mornings in quiet coffee breaks, nights in Gia’s laughter, and afternoons as Aiden and I made love in hushed whispers. No misunderstandings or fights; just plain life. I clung on to it like a rope, terrified of what else might come next,
Man, what would I give to not have the life of the main character in a corny romance that constantly had bad things happening to her? A wished for invisibility–a chance to be a supporting character instead of the one the world always seemed to zero in on
THE
“It’s just your luck, darling. Reyna chuckled, her laughter rich and melodic as she took another sip. She stretched her long legs, crossing them at the ankle with an air of someone who never had to worry about a bad thing in her life.
Almost as if my luck had decided to mock me, Carlos entered the room. His expression was cautious, the kind of look he wore when delivering bad news. The muscles in my shoulders tensed as I waited for him to speak.
“We have uh, a visitor for you, he began hesitantly, his voice lower than usual. His discomfort was palpable. “She c claims to be your mother.
My mother! The words sounded alien, as if they didn’t belong in the present. For a split second, I wondered if he’d somehow mistaken someone else for her. “My mother Wha–It must be some fraud because my parents wouldn’t bother to come all the way here:
Carlos grimaced slightly, his discomfort deepening. “Well, she does look like you.”
His words sent a shiver skittering down my spine, I sat up straighter, my heart thrumming. My mother here, now–it felt surreal. I got slowly off the couch, my legs carrying me to the hall as if on autopilot. I wouldn’t believe it till I saw her face.
And then I did.
I froze in place. There she was, standing in the middle of my living room. The years hadn’t dulled her elegance; she stood tall and poised, her sharp eyes scanning the room as though she were appraising it. Her hair was streaked with more silver than I remembered, but her expression remained the same–a carefully composed mask that revealed nothing,
“It’s really you” The words spilled from my lips cold and bitter, laced with every ounce of resentment I hadn’t realized I still carried. If they hurt her, she didn’t let it show. Her face was unreadable.
“Freya. How are you?” Her voice was calm, but it felt too rehearsed, like she had practiced this moment a hundred times.
“What are you doing here? The question came out harsher than I intended, but I couldn’t temper it. My body was rigid, every muscle coiled tight with emotions I couldn’t u
untangle.
“I missed you,” she said simply, as if that explained everything. “Your dad and I miss you”
The mention of him made my stomach twist. “Dad misses me? Where is he?” My voice had sharpened, cutting through the air between us.
Her g gare faltered for the briefest moment. “The -he couldn’t she trailed off, her composure cracking as she struggled to find an excuse that would make sense. The pause told me everything. I nodded to myself, the bitterness rising like bile in my throat.
He hadn’t forgiven me for something he thought I did. He hadn’t even bothered to come
to be here. I wanted
Just tell me the actual reason. Why are you really here?” I ask agitated, now. I hated all this deliberation. She had some motive to to find out what those were as soon as possible.
“I told you, I miss you”
“It’s a little too late for that, don’t you think?” I snapped, hating the fact that I desperately wanted this to be the truth, but I knew in my heart it
“Mommy a small, singsong voice interrupted from behind, and I turned just in time to see Gia darting toward me. She was grinning, her curly hair bouncing with each step, but the moment her curious eyes landed on my mother, she faltered. Her smile vanished, replaced by hesitation as she shrank back and chung to my leg.
“Who is the?” Gia’s little voice was hesitant, her round eyes peering up at me for answers
